A recent study from Keck Medicine of USC reveals a worrisome reality: exposure to a chemical used in dry-cleaning and common household products may triple the risk of serious liver fibrosis. The study identifies Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a colourless industrial solvent found in adhesives, spot-cleaners and stainless steel polish, as a previously overlooked culprit in liver disease.
Typically, serious liver conditions are associated with excessive alcohol intake, fatty liver linked to obesity, diabetes or high cholesterol, or viral hepatitis. Yet this research adds a new dimension: environmental exposure. The investigators found that individuals with higher PCE levels had markedly increased scarring of the liver tissue — a condition that may lead to liver cancer, liver failure or death.
The mechanism is believed to involve micro-vascular injury and ongoing inflammation triggered by the chemical. Because PCE can be released slowly from dry-cleaned garments or leach into drinking water through contaminated soil, its impact may be insidious and persistent.
For those working in or around dry-cleaning operations, or for anyone living near contaminated sites, this study is a reminder that liver health demands more than diet and exercise: it also demands awareness of hidden environmental risks.
Moving forward, preventive strategies must broaden their focus. Screening for early liver damage, understanding exposures at home, and advocating for regulatory limits may become as important as nutritional counselling or metabolic management.
SOURCE: Liver International
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